VA announced a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to encourage Veterans to consider pet ownership and volunteer opportunities with community organizations, including local animal shelters and humane societies in an effort to pair Veterans with rescued animals.

This announcement represents the latest example of VA’s commitment to working closely with nonprofit organizations and other community partners to identify new and innovative ways to support Veterans’ health and well being through this initiative.

“There are many benefits to pet ownership both for Veterans in need of companionship and for animals in need of good homes,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin. “The greatest benefit for both can be a more fulfilled quality of life. We are pleased to work with the Humane Society on this important initiative and excited about its potential to create more opportunities to serve.”

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS, also hailed the new alliance.

“The partnership between animal welfare groups and VA is an important program for our Veterans and for homeless animals,” Pacelle said. “We know the power of the human-animal bond, and I can’t think of a better way to see it expressed than in helping our nation’s heroes.”

VA and the HSUS will build model programs and networks with community organizations in order to establish connections with local VA medical facilities, making it easier to link Veterans with animals ready for adoption in their local communities.

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5 Comments

  1. Bonnie Hoover December 16, 2017 at 22:09

    My husband served 7 yrs in,the infantry in Germany
    He was Jerked off a tank. No back injuries noted but yet he came home with a croked spine. Years later he has had 3 back surgies and his back is smashing in on his lungs causing him to smother when he coughs.
    Please help

  2. Billy C. Hyman December 8, 2017 at 18:31

    Can a dog adopted be considered a service animal since I have PTSD?

  3. Gary Lawrenc Smith December 8, 2017 at 11:55

    HSUS has no animal shelters and only 1% of their receipts go into supporting shelters. The VA is being scammed by a group that should not be tax exempt and is looking for good publicity.

  4. Grier O. Phillips December 8, 2017 at 10:29

    From the title I expected the vets to be treated by ‘Vets.’ Which seeing how the VA is run, might not be such a bad idea. As a former 91B4H and a tour in SEA ’67-’69 I don’t have much faith in the VA.

  5. Rowena Howard December 8, 2017 at 10:28

    Is there an established partnership between the VA in St. Louis and the local Humane Societies in Missouri and/or Illinois? If so, how do veterans go about find the information or links needed to adopt a pet? If not, is there a date when the VA will partner with the local Humane societies?

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